Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
In today’s post, we will together be making an expedition to Aichi Prefecture’s Nagoya Castle. Originally dating from the early 1600s, this mighty structure was first erected to protect the Tokugawa clan from potential enemies in the west. Thanks in…
Today’s article is the next installment in my area guide series where I go into great detail on a specific spot. This will be a VERY long post but not without good reason! We’ll be going far off the beaten…
In today’s post we’ll be examining one of the northernmost outposts of the Tendai Buddhist sect that has been on my bucket list for years. Officially known as Risshaku-ji, the temple is more colloquially known as Yamadera (lit. “Mountain Temple”)…
Somewhere off the beaten path… well off the beaten path… lie the remains of a dilapidated Inari shrine that’s nestled within the hills near the base in Yokosuka. This hidden gem is known as Fushimi Hakuseki Inari Shrine and is…
It often seems almost every place in Japan is famous for SOMETHING. Over the years, regional cultural quirks have combined with geographical features to produce a surprisingly wide variety of local specialties. Though many outsiders often mistake Japan as homogeneous,…
Today, we will be journeying back up north to the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture for a hidden gem that is often overlooked, the city of Mito. Though firmly located off the beaten path, Mito is by no means a “countryside”…
How in the nine hells did a piece of what was once a massive fortress in central Tokyo make its way to neighboring Saitama Prefecture? Let’s unravel this mystery by starting with a brief historical overview. Today we will be…
When most people start searching for ancient shrines and temples their thoughts immediately turn to Kyoto. I mean, why not? After all, the city is famous for being known around the globe as the “old capital” Nevertheless, those on the…
In the spring of 2017 the city of Nikko finally finished refurbishing the Toshogu Shrine where the legendary founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, is enshrined. The refurbished Yomeimon gate, which is registered as a national treasure, is absolutely…
Japan’s Strangest Celebration MAJOR DISCLAIMER! This post is obviously not safe to read at the office or near your grandmother. I take no responsibility for any of the consequences that might stem from the consumption of the following text. That…
When I tell people that some of the BEST ramen I’ve ever had was actually in the bowels of a monolithic train station, they tend to give a inquisitive look at best. Who can blame them? They must think of…
Today we’ll be exploring of one of Yokohama’s best kept secrets and one that many Tokyoites are oblivious to. Noge is a hidden gem sandwiched between the bustling business and entertainment district of Minato Mirai (a popular date spot) and…
Ever since hitting up Kusatsu Onsen, I’ve been on a real hot spring kick. I have been visiting as many onsen as time allows. As such you can imagine my delight when I found that Azabu Juban, an area I…
Hanami (lit. “flower viewing”) is the traditional annual Japanese custom of enjoying the transience of the country’s legendary cherry blossoms or sakura as the locals call them. Every year, beginning in the latter half of March, Japan’s sakura emerge from…
Nestled 1,200 meters above sea level in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, the rustic town of Kusatsu Onsen is a hidden gem that goes unnoticed by many visitors to Japan. Considered to be a top hot spring in Japan, its…